Publisher's Description

Weve all done dumb stuff in our lives. We all have regrets. Yet none of us plans to mess up our lives. Why, then, does it keep happening?

Life doesnt have to be that way. You can fool-proof your life…as this book shows. Gods promise and pattern is for something better.

In The Best Question Ever, Andy Stanley effectively teaches the practical and lasting value of simply asking this question about our actions in all of lifes arenas: What is the wise thing for me to do, in light of my past experience, my present circumstances, and my future hopes and dreams?

This book probes for honesty it pushes us to open our eyes to reality and helps us expose the little (and big) self-deceptions we have.

Prepare yourself.

You are about to be introduced to a single question that will revolutionize the way you make decisions.

Over the past twenty years, speaker and author Andy Stanley has shared the power of this question with thousands of students and adults all over the country. In this ground-breaking new book, Andy provides you with a filter through which to evaluate every decision in every arena of your life. As you are about to discover, the Best Question Ever will bring clarity to decisions involving your finances, your love life, your schedule, even your career.

People everywhere agree that their greatest regret could have been avoided had they asked the Best Question Ever and then acted on their conclusions. A time-tested truth that has immediate application, the Best Question Ever has the power to change the trajectory of your entire life.

Story Behind the Book

After continually making decisions that were short-sighted and hasty, Andy Stanley sought counsel. In Ephesians 5:15 he read, "Be very careful, then, how you livenot as unwise but as wise." It was there that Andy discovered what he considers to be The Best Question Ever.

I have read many of Andy Stanley's books. I usually enjoy them as I find the way Andy writes to be engaging. I also have liked his use of Scripture and how he has made applying God's Word practical. Unfortunately, The Best Question Ever did not measure up to the author's previous works.

While there is some good advice and some practical examples, the book felt like it could have been written by any secular author who happened to sprinkle in a dash of Scripture to try and reach a wider audience.

This book seemed to lack the inspiration of some of Andy Stanley's other books and just fell flat. I am still an overall fan of the author, but this book would not be high on my list of recommended reading.

I received this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah as part of their Blogging for Books Program.

Andy Stanley is one of my favorite authors and speakers. He communicates in an engaging way, both in the spoken and written word, and is also very practical. He continues that in his book The Best Question Ever.

In this offering, Stanley explores what he calls a new approach to decision-making. His premise is that rather than look to make the right decision, we should look to make the wise decision. He states it like this: "In light of your past experience, your current circumstance, and your future hopes and dreams, what is the wise thing to do." Rather than just look at a decision and see if there is anything wrong with it, we should see what is wise.

In The Best Question Ever Stanley applies this question to decisions regarding our time, our money and our relationships. In all these areas, making wise decisions is vital because they can have lasting impact on our own lives and those around us.

I like how Stanley emphasizes the importance of making wise choices on page 125 of the book: "None of us plan - or intend - to get into trouble. The problem is, we don't have a plan not to. Adopting the Best Question Ever enables us to plan not to."

Everyone wants to make good decisions. In this book, Stanley gives some good insight from God's Word on how to go about making good decisions and part of it is seeing that we are not as unique as we think we are. When faced with a decision, we can convince ourselves that we are the exception to the rule. We can go down a certain path because we can handle it, we are smarter or it simply won't happen to us like it does to other people. On page 111, he puts on paper what many people think: "Nobody has ever felt this way before. No one has to deal with what I have to deal with. I can handle it. I'm not live everybody else_"

Stanley speaks directly to our need to see that we aren't unique, that we do need wisdom outside of our ourselves, that wisdom seeks advice from others and God wants to help us make those wise decisions.

The Best Question Ever would be a good resource for high school and college students and young adults. While more mature adults would benefit from this book, many of the decisions to which he refers are being made by those in the young adult period of their lives. This would be a good tool for pastors and leaders in student ministry to work through in a small group setting.

I've read the book and recently led a small group through the DVD and study guide. Overall, it was good. I am a fan of Stanley and will continue to check out his resources. However this one fell short for me and for our group somewhat. The Best Question Ever is a great question, but to whom is the question asked? I think it's a question we need to bring before the Lord, seeking His answer. He lands on this point somewhat by the end, but it just doesn't come across strong enough for me. Also, He's very good at identifying an issue that surfaces when it comes to this question, "What is the wise thing for me to do?" Often, the problem is not that we don't know what the wise thing is. It's that our desires don't line up with what's wise. He's good at identifying it, but not as helpful in addressing it as I'd hoped. Still worth checking out.

This title is the second I have read by Andy Stanley. My appreciation for the author and his writing style is growing. He is entertaining, edifying and enlightening. In this volume, Stanley poses the best question ever. He first explains the question, and then applies it to time, money and morality. He closes with an emphasis on the importance of the best question ever.This book is a good, quick read that will benefit any Christian. I recommend it highly. After reading it, the chances are much better that the reader will ask himself the best question ever on a regular basis!